ARTWORK IN THE CAPITOL
The Statue of Freedom above the Capitol dome wears a laurel of five pointed stars and holds a sword and shield.
ARTWORK IN THE CAPITOL
The Statue of Freedom above the Capitol dome wears a laurel of five pointed stars and holds a sword and shield.
The Apotheosis of Washington by Constantino Brumidi is 180 feet above the floor of the rotunda in the eye of the Capital dome. The fresco is 65 feet in diameter and surrounded by 72 five pointed stars. The figure below Washington is Freedom with sword and shield raised. Liberty and Fame are sitting on the rainbow and clouds next to Washington as he rises to the heavens. 13 maidens, representing the original 13 states, complete the central portion of the fresco.
The fresco has six scenes around the edge surrounding a seventh scene in the middle. George Washington's masonic apron has six stars surrounding a seventh star in the middle. The apron has a rainbow/arch and Washington is sitting on a rainbow in the fresco. Five pointed stars surround the fresco and a five pointed star is prominent on the apron.
The central feature of the apron is the mason's compass. The science teacher holds a compass in the fresco.
Fame and Peace crowning Washington by Antonio Capellano is above the doors to the rotunda in the Capitol.
Patriae Pater by Rembrandt Peale is in the old Senate chamber. Jupiter is above Washington at the top of the frame.
This early 19th century bust of Washington by an unknown artist was placed in the Capitol in 1966.
Justice, at the back of the old Supreme Court chamber in the Capitol, is flanked by an eagle and Fame as a youth.
The Car of History is above the north entrance in the national statuary hall. This sculpture and Justice are both works by Carlo Franzoni. A bas-relief of Washington in profile is on the side of the car. The face of the clock is the wheel of the car, suggesting movement through time. Signs of the zodiac are carved on the globe at the base of the sculpture and the wheel is on the zodiac, suggesting movement over periods of astronomical time.
Justice and History is above the Senate doors on the east front of the Capitol. A five pointed star is engraved on the globe between the two figures. This sculpture and The Statue of Freedom are both works by Thomas Crawford. The original commission was for Liberty and Justice, but Crawford substituted History for Liberty. An unusual feature of this sculpture and the panel in the old Supreme Court chamber is that Justice is not blindfolded.
Solon is in the House of Representatives chamber where 23 marble relief portraits depict noted lawgivers. The display is centered on Moses. Solon is the first relief to the right of Moses. Plato cited Solon as his source of information about Atlantis. According to Solon, the story of Atlantis had been preserved and then given to him by the priesthood of ancient Egypt.
